Little Earthquakes

With her haunting solo debut Little Earthquakes, Tori Amos carved the template for the female singer/songwriter movement of the '90s. Amos' delicate, prog rock piano work and confessional, poetically quirky lyrics invited close emotional connection, giving her a fanatical cult following and setting the stage for the Lilith Fair/a>/i>

Overview

With her haunting solo debut Little Earthquakes, Tori Amos carved the template for the female singer/songwriter movement of the '90s. Amos' delicate, prog rock piano work and confessional, poetically quirky lyrics invited close emotional connection, giving her a fanatical cult following and setting the stage for the Lilith Fair legions. But Little Earthquakes is no mere style-setter or feminine stereotype -- its intimacy is uncompromising, intense, and often far from comforting. Amos' musings on major personal issues -- religion, relationships, gender, childhood -- were just as likely to encompass rage, sarcasm, and defiant independence as pain or tenderness; sometimes, it all happened in the same song. The apex of that intimacy is the harrowing "Me and a Gun," where Amos strips away all the music, save for her own voice, and confronts the listener with the story of her own real-life rape; the free-associative lyrics come off as a heart-wrenching attempt to block out the ordeal. Little Earthquakes isn't always so stomach-churning, but it never seems less than deeply cathartic; it's the sound of a young woman (like the protagonist of "Silent All These Years") finally learning to use her own voice -- sort of the musical equivalent of Mary Pipher's Reviving Ophelia. That's why Amos draws strength from her relentless vulnerability, and that's why the constantly shifting emotions of the material never seem illogical -- Amos simply delights in the frankness of her own responses, whatever they might be. Though her subsequent albums were often very strong, Amos would never bare her soul quite so directly (or comprehensibly) as she did here, nor with such consistently focused results. Little Earthquakes is the most accessible work in Amos' catalog, and it's also the most influential and rewarding.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

This selection should be an important part of your Tori Amos library. Being the first of her albums it has had a great following due to the fact that its originality and sensuality involves the listener with enthusiasm. Great album for the car or just lounging at home

Guest

More than 1 year ago

This album is one of the ones in my collection that gets EXCESSIVE playing time. Tori's lyrics are simultaneously powerful and beautiful, and nothing showcases her melodic voice better than "Little Earthquakes". I never get tired of listening to this album. My favorite songs are "Crucify", "Silent All These Years", and "Winter".

Guest

More than 1 year ago

probably the most musically accessible tori album, which occured so early in her career. i recommend this to any new toriphile, as it's main focus is on vocals and lyrics, which can be both lush (girl) and stark (me and a gun) but will literally entrance you. this album gets better every day, but listen it to it five times before you make a decision: with the exception of crucify, i absolutely hated it the first time i heard it, and now its got to be my favorite album. she writes wonderfully, her lyrics get under your skin (or thumb, as tori would have it.)

Guest

More than 1 year ago

This is what made her TORI AMOS....THE QUEEN. Of course it's great! This album is filled with music that makes you want to dance & cry. It's filled with hills and valleys of heart and emotion with wonderful melodys and absolutely beautiful voice and the wonderful talents and imagination of the queen. This is one cd I couldn't live without.

Guest

More than 1 year ago

Before I got to know Tori's music I listened to -- well, 'trendy' music, so to speak. The kind every other person on earth listens to. The kind of music with only a good beat and no meaning. But my friend introduced me to Tori and I've been hooked ever since... her music has meaning. And Tori has talent, let me tell you. She is a +true+ artist. She is the best.

Guest

More than 1 year ago

This has to be one of my favorite CD's of all time (though it is somewhat battling with Under the Pink). It was my first Tori CD and I still get that thrill whenever I see the case, the booklet, the CD itself. Everything about it oozes different and wonderous, and Faery sparks fly from it in shimmering storms (though you do have to actually look to see them). Tori Amos is truly a beautiful artist, and none of her music has EVER dissapointed me. You must be an Orc to not love this, for here lies a gem that shines without failing, it's luster greater than that of the sun.

Guest

More than 1 year ago

Wow, this was the first Tori Amos CD I was introduced to, and it was exceptional. She has such an awesome voice...a wonderful style that is uniquely her own!! Basically, you'll either love her or hate her...I haven't found anyone who was 'in between'.

Guest

More than 1 year ago

Tori Amos' first ''official'' album ''Little Earthquakes'' is a stark, intense classic that set the stage for the '90's grrl power of Morissete, Jewel, Crow, etc. Listening to it is like reading Virginia Woolf's suicide diary- it's traumantic, powerful and flawless. Amos may never reach this pinnacle of achievement again, but ''Earthquakes'' remains a moving, brilliant masterpiece.

Guest

More than 1 year ago

Tori Amos' album "Little Earthquakes" is an album that is none like the rest. This album took to emotions I never thought I would feel and hearing her harrowing single "Me and a Gun" was very touching and tear jerking. This is an outstaning album that I recommend everyone to pick up.

Guest

More than 1 year ago

it was some time in the early 90's i went to a local music store and i heard the usual things playing, so i ignored them. then came this hauntingly melodic music which made my spine tingle with its beauty. it was like nothing i had heard before. i then asked the store clerk if she knew what was playing -- then came the magic words -- tori amos. without hearing another note from a song other than winter, i got my money and paid for it. someone, while i was in the university computer lab, lifted my precious baby, and so disappeared the music i just bought not too shortly before. this time i was more vigilant and i have had this disc for quite some time -- scars and all. it has been my music of choice. i really like the way girl just grabs you by the hair and pulls at your fear as you imagine a frightened little girl huddled in shattering darkness and fear. i also like china. actually i like the whole compilation. buy it now -- don't wait!!!!!!!!!!

Guest

More than 1 year ago

This album truly is music at its finest. It's melodic, catchy and beautiful. If you really do love good music, and I don't mean that meaningless Britney Spear's junk, you'll pay a visit to your local music store and PURCHASE THIS CD.

Guest

More than 1 year ago

The very first time I heard Little Earthquakes was the year it came out - I was only 6 years old. There I sat in the back seat of my mom's Chevy Cavalier listening to Tori Amos' beautiful voice. I never thought the very same tape would fall into my hands years later and change my life. I'm now a diehard Tori fan. It's hard to want to listen to any other type of music that's out there today. Tori's music is deep and spiritual and brings you to another place. That's far more than what could be said about some of the pop music today. I suggest to anyone looking for that radio alternative to pick up Little Earthquakes - then Boys for Pele and then the rest.

Guest

More than 1 year ago

This CD spoke to me the first time I listened to it, at 15 years of age, and continues to move me to the age of 24. Once you are graced with the company of this album, you charish it like a friend that you never want to lose. Most definitely my favorite album. I highly recommend the experience of becoming enchanted by Little Earthquakes.

Guest

More than 1 year ago

For at least a handful of Tori Amos fans, the question will always be: Y Kan¿t Tori keep remaking Little Earthquakes ¿ the 1991 record/revelation on which the henna-haired hellcat conclusively cast her pouffy-`do¿d Pat Benatar pretensions to the wind and produced an epiphany-rich, piano-and-strings-driven masterpiece. Whether pounding her piano to a pulp or just barely breathing on its keys, Amos displayed a breathtaking range of melody and mood ¿ from the empowering openers ¿Crucify,¿ ¿Girl,¿ and ¿Silent All These Years¿ to the music-box-melancholic, rain-on-the-windowpane-nostalgic ¿Winter¿ and ¿Mother¿ to the disconcertingly intimate ¿Me And A Gun.¿ By album¿s end, Amos had permanently laid to rest any as-yet-undispelled memories from her ill-suited, over-produced 1988 debut, coldly incanting over the closing track¿s apocalyptic, ¿Little Drummer Boy¿ rumblings: ¿Give me life/Give me pain/Give me myself again.¿ It was with Little Earthquakes that Tori Amos finally found her creative feet. To her credit, she has been pulling the rug right out from under them ever since.